“Give me an S! Give me a T! Give me a P-E-T-E-R!” Principal Joan Sickinger yelled through a black megaphone during a school rally on Thursday.

Clad in a panther costume, Sickinger was dressed as St. Peter’s mascot to accept a reward for her students for their fundraising success.

“I’m very proud of you for being the number one school,” Sickinger shouted.

The 200 students, grades pre-k through 8th, had spent the past four weeks participating in the House of Hope “Spare Change for the Homeless” campaign. The campaign addresses the fact that many people may wonder what kind of difference a little spare change can make, but if all that change is put together it can make a huge difference in the lives of homeless individuals and families in Rhode Island.

The school set a goal of $500, which they thought was a reasonably attainable amount; they raised almost $1,300 by the time the month was over.

“St. Peter’s has collected the most money out of all of our participating schools,” said Tom Miller, associate director of the House of Hope.

The students came up with several different suggestions for what Sickinger could do if they reached their goal, like dying her hair pink, but she went with the mascot.

“This is so out of character for me, I don’t even dress up for Halloween,” said Sickinger.

Miller came to St. Peter’s during a school guild assembly to address the parents and garner their support for the program. He then returned to the school to educate the students about homelessness and how easily it can affect someone they know.

“I get the kids to participate in a role play where I pretend to be their dad that has lost his job and his house. I tell them to take a trash bag and fill it with as much of their stuff as they can carry and that’s all they can take,” said Miller.

The campaign started with students bringing in pennies, then nickels, and so on week by week. During the assembly Principal Sickinger, along with two seventh grade students, presented Miller with a check for $1,292.54.

“That money is going to homeless moms and dads, aunts and uncles, boys and girls,” said Miller.

He went on to tell them how much their participation was appreciated and what a difference that money will make. The House of Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides permanent housing to families and individuals in need, allowing them to know they have a place to come home to every day. The organization is in its 19th year.

Sickinger said that the students had an incredible grasp on the issue of homelessness and the effect it can have on people.

“If I was homeless I would want someone to help me,” said seventh-grader Adam Joyal.

St. Peter’s holds fundraisers throughout the year in which students, teachers and parents participate.

“It made me feel good that we helped underprivileged people,” said eighth-grader Jackie Ferrara.